As is the case with every high-stakes vote, some groups came away winners, while others came away losers. Here's the scorecard from Thursday's vote:

Winners:

Gov. Tom Corbett and House Majority Leader Mike Turzai:

The two Republicans ended up with egg on their faces last year when they failed to muster support to even bring a privatization vote out of committee, let alone to the House floor.

With his approval ratings in the basement, Corbett needed a victory to campaign on in 2014. While he's a long way from the goal line, it's clear that the governor learned his lesson from last year's failed push.

Those close to the debate said they experienced a previously unseen- level of executive involvement in the days leading up to Thursday's vote. After a bumpy adolescence, it appears the Corbettistas have finally learned the art of retail politics.

Turzai, R-Allegheny, meanwhile, can exhale knowing that he still has the ability to ride herd on a caucus that often puts the fun in dysfunctional. A major success: Having House Liquor Control Committee Chairman John Taylor onside for the debate.

Taylor belongs to an all-but-extinct species: Republicanus Philadelphius, and his ties to organized labor may have neutralized the opposition of the influential Local 1776 of the United Food and Commercial Workers, which represents about 3,000 state store workers.

Local 1776 of the United Food and Commercial Workers Union:

Though some state store workers will undoubtedly lose their jobs in a privatized system, the legislation's architects wisely provided for those employees. The bill gives civil service preference to displaced employees. It also provides workers with a $1,000 per year grant to go back to school part-time and $2,000 to go back to school full-time while $2,000 per year. Private operators who hire the workers would be given tax credits.

The Wine Industry:

The bill makes it easier than ever for Pennsylvanians to purchase wine. Under the legislation,

supermarkets would be permitted to purchase licenses to sell wine between 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Shoppers could buy up to 12 bottles of wine in a single sale. Supermarkets also could continue to sell beer under the current system by acquiring restaurant licenses.

Restaurants:

Under the bill, restaurants, hotels and eating establishments could obtain permits to sell up to 24 bottles of beer sold in packages no more than a 12-pack. (No cases.) Restaurants also would be able to purchase permits so they could sell up to six bottles of wine to diners to take home.

Losers:

Pennsylvania consumers:

If the bill clears the Senate in its current form, the choice and convenience touted by backers would pretty much get tossed out the window. The framework of the House legislation, which sets up odd hours for the sale of beer and wine, and makes purchasing spirits just as onerous as it is now, results in a system just as convoluted as the one lawmakers are trying to replace.

Beer Distributors:

While the legislation expands access to beer, things don't get much easier for the family-owned beer distributors who have pretty much had a lock on beer sales on the state for decades. Under the bill, distributors would be allowed to operate every day except Sunday from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sunday sales permit would cost $1,000 a year, and hours would be 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.

In addition, it's likely that not every distributor would be able to afford to spare the shelf space to stock wine and spirits. Nor would there be the space for distributors to carry the more exotic microbrews so beloved by suds connoisseurs.

Common Sense:

While the legislation quite sensibly continues to allow the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board to continue to exist as a licensing and enforcement agency, the legislation unfathomably keeps it in business (at least in the short term) as a booze retailer.

Under the legislation the LCB would operate no fewer than 100 stores at any time, depending upon the pace of license sales. The state would get out of the wholesale booze business within 12 months of enactment of the legislation.

More disappointingly, the no-longer-applicable Johnstown Flood Tax (18 percent) and states sales tax (6 percent in most places, 7 percent in Philadelphia and Allegheny County) would still be levied on alcohol. The sales tax we get. But it's been ages since Johnstown was under water. That was one tax that should have been retired.

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